Editor-at-Large George Lundberg, MD, warns against scams being perpetrated on those who use online dating and social networking sites.

Hello and welcome. I'm Dr. George Lundberg and this is At Large at MedPage Today.

A special holiday message.

"Looking for love in all the wrong places" ... so crooned a host of country singers a generation ago.

What does that have to do with health? A lot. There is an abundance of literature demonstrating that people in sustained, positive love relationships live longer and healthier lives.

www.quackwatch.org is one of my favorite information sources. Its recent newsletter called Consumer Health Digest #10-48 dated Dec. 2, 2010 included this warning about dating scams: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning that scammers are using online dating and social networking sites to try to persuade people to send money in the name of love.

In a typical scenario, the scam artist creates a fake profile, gains the trust of an online love interest, and then asks that person to wire money -- usually to a location outside the U.S.

If you or your patients are into online dating, the following should be considered red flags:

Rapid movement from the dating site to personal e-mail or instant messaging

Declaring instant feelings of love

Claiming to be from the U.S. but currently overseas

Describing a tragic event that prevents a planned visit

Asking for money to pay for travel, visas, medication, a relative's hospital bills, help to recover financially, or expenses while a big business deal comes through

People who send money once nearly always receive additional requests.

The FTC's warning is posted to OnGuardOnline.gov, which provides tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help people guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their personal information.

Turns out there is more than one way to protect yourself from unsafe sex and unsafe love in a vulnerable situation, especially if you are fighting off the holiday blues.

That's my opinion. I'm Dr. George Lundberg, At Large for MedPage Today.

Oh, by the way, special for the holidays, Ho, Ho, Ho. Also STOP EATING before THAT love affair makes you even larger.

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